What may affect curtural communication

What may affectintercultural communication? Culture ShockFurnham and Bochner state that culture shock is "... when a sojourner is unfamiliar with the social conventions of the new culture, or if familiar with them, unable or unwilling to perform according to these rules." (Thomas J. Milton)Culture shock refers to phenomena ranging from mild irritability to deep psychological panic and crisis. Culture shock is associated with feelings in the learner of estrangement, anger, hostility, indecision, frustration, unhappiness, sadness, loneliness, homesickness, and even physical illness. Persons undergoing culture shock view their new world out of resentment and alternate between being angry at others for not understanding them and being filled with self-pity. (Brown 1994)An individual may experience a form of it in anintra-national move, such as moving from one region of the country to another or when one changes jobs. Tourists abroad also experience a form of culture shock; however, this is usually quite mild and even can be part of the whole excitement of traveling. The most severe, and costly, cases of culture shock occur to individuals who live outside of their native country for an extended period of time. Understanding Culture Shock⏹honeymoon phase: fascination, elation and optimism⏹hostility, emotionally stereotyped attitudes; seeking closer contact to fellow sojourners;⏹increased language knowledge and ability to get around in the new culture; recovery from phase two.⏹adjustment; new customs accepted and enjoyed⏹(Karl Oberg)Acculturation (Schumann)……the social and psychological integration of the learner with the target language group‟.⏹excitement⏹culture shock⏹culture stress⏹assimilation, adaptation, acceptanceU-shaped curve⏹elation and optimism⏹frustration, depression and confusion⏹adaptationUnderstanding Culture Shock⏹Is the order of stages invariant?⏹Must all stages be passed through or can some be skipped by some individuals?culture-learning (1970s and 1980s )Culture shock is thought of as a profound learning experience that leads to a high degree of self-awareness and personal growth. Rather than being only a disease for which adaptation is the cure, culture shock is likewise at the very heart of the cross-cultural learning experience. It is an experience in self-understanding andchange.( Adler 1987)culture-learning (1970s and 1980s )⏹Instead of adapting to a new culture, the individual learnshow to operate in the new culture; he does not have to embrace all, or even most, aspects of the society.⏹By learning and adapting, upon return to one's native land, one can then discard those features that one learned in order to function in the new culture.Culture Shock⏹Sometimes there are some orientation programs or courses for people going overseas. The program may contain some important information about the host country, the various do's and don'ts of the culture, customs, living conditions and other information.⏹In addition, the newcomer may be assigned a local person to help him or her around for the first week.Culture ShockSome internal factors, such a strong, yet flexible personality and personal experience, can effect how well one adapts to a culture. Studies show that people with prior overseas experience adapt better than those who have no such experience.Stereotypeassigning a person the general characteristics associated with a group of which they are a memberovergeneralization.not acknowledge internal differences within a groupnot acknowledge exceptions to its general rules or principles Stereotypenegative stereotyping⏹to contrast two cultures or two groups on the basis of some single dimension. All Asians are inductive and all westerners are deductive in their introduction of topics.Stereotype⏹to jump to the conclusion that Asians and westerners can never successfully communicate with each other.⏹to assign a positive value to one strategy or group, and a negative value to the other strategy or groupAn westerner might say the problem with intercultural communication between Asians and westerners is that they refuse to introduce their topics so that we cannot understand them....⏹to regeneralize this process to the entire groupStereotypeStereotyping due to generalizing may be inevitable among those who lack frequent contact with another culture. But if you rely on the stereotypes, you will likely put yourself into an awkward and embarrassing situation and offend others.⏹boastful and arrogant⏹disrespectful of authority⏹drunkard⏹generous⏹ignorant of other countries and cultures⏹informal⏹racist⏹rich and wealthy⏹rude and immature⏹snobbish⏹think they know everything⏹think every country should imitate the US.EthnocentrismThis learning continues into and throughout adulthood as people internalize, accept, and identify with their group's way of living. Ethnocentrism⏹As a consequence of this limited experience within one particular society, most people feel that their particular way of life is superior, right, and natural and that all other cultures are inferior and often wrong andunnatural. This feeling is called ethnocentrism.⏹It is basically an inclination to judge other cultures in terms of the values and norms of one's own culture.EthnocentrismThus the more dissimilar another culture is to one's own, the stranger, the more absurd, and inferior the other culture appears to be. In this sense, ethnocentrism involves mistaking the familiar, customary, or merely conventional ways of one's own culture for what is "natural," "right," and "superior."Ethnocentrism⏹subjective evaluation⏹negative⏹“Our way is the right way.”⏹Americans, who are immersed in an open and free democratic society, cannot understand how citizens of China can consider ourselves equally free, and defend our system as best.⏹"uncivilized"⏹"immoral”EthnocentrismPeople everywhere develop customs and values, not to make their life more difficult or complicated, but to make life simpler and easier in their own society. We should attempt to look at other societies "within the framework of that society", instead of looking at it from the perspective of our own society.⏹Guidelines for InterculturalCommunicationGuidelines for InterculturalCommunicationAcculturation is the process which sees a person function effectively within a culture other than his/her own native culture. There are differences between many groups accounted for by culture. When recognition of those differences is followed by acceptance and understanding of those differences, people of different groups may more effectively communicate.Guidelines for InterculturalCommunicationWhile change is inevitable any time two cultures interact, there is general agreement that relinquishing one's cultural heritage is not only unnecessary but also unwise and unhealthy. As cultures mingle and interact, they influence and change each other, sometimes more subtly than others. Guidelines for InterculturalCommunicationBut we needn't lose any of the distinctiveness of our own cultural heritage just by the fact of our encountering other cultures, or even as we become more effective in communicating with members of other cultural groups. By retaining our individual characteristics and assimilating and absorbing the cream of other cultures as well, our own culture can become wonderfully "rich-flavored."1) Discovering characteristics of other cultures⏹Differences between cultures are often experienced as threatening. ⏹What is logical and important in a particular culture may seem irrational and unimportant to an outsider.⏹In describing another culture, people tend to stress the differences and overlook the similarities.1) Discovering characteristics of other cultures⏹Stereotyping due to generalizing may be inevitable among those who lack frequent contact with another culture.⏹Personal observations of others about another culture should be regarded with skepticism.⏹Many cultures often exist within a single race, language group, religion or nationality, differentiated by age, gender, socioeconomic status, education, and exposure to other cultures.1) Discovering characteristics of other cultures⏹All cultures have internal variations.⏹Cultural awareness varies among individuals.⏹One‟s own sense of cultural identity often is not evident until one encounters another culture.⏹Cultures are continually evolving.⏹Understanding another culture is a continuous process.1) Discovering characteristics of other cultures⏹Firsthand experience is necessary to understand many subtleties of any culture.⏹Feelings of apprehension, loneliness or lack of confidence are common when visiting and experiencing another culture.2) Tips on effective intercultural communication(by Marcelle E. Dupraw)⏹Learn from generalizations about other cultures, but don't use those generalizations to stereotype. The best use of generalization is to add it to your storehouse of knowledge so that you better understand and appreciate other interesting, multi-faceted human beings.⏹Don't assume that breakdowns in communication occur because other people are on the wrong track. Search for ways to make the communication work, rather than searching for who should receive the blame for the breakdown.2) Tips on effective intercultural communication(by Marcelle E. Dupraw)⏹Listen actively and empathetically. Try to put yourself in the other person's shoes. Especially when another person's perceptions or ideas are very different from your own, you might need to operate at the edge of your own comfort zone.⏹Respect other's choice about whether to engage in communication with you. Honor their opinion about what is going on.⏹Stop, suspend judgment, and try to look at the situation as an outsider.2) Tips on effective intercultural communication(by Marcelle E. Dupraw)⏹Be prepared for a discussion of the past. Use this as an opportunity to develop an understanding from "the other's" point of view, rather than getting defensive or impatient. Acknowledge historical events that have taken place. Be open to learning more about them. Honest acknowledgment of the mistreatment and oppression that have taken place on the basis of cultural difference is vital for effective communication.2) Tips on effective intercultural communication(by Marcelle E. Dupraw)⏹Remember that cultural norms may not apply to the behavior of any particular individual. We are all shaped by many factors---our ethnic background, our family, our education, our personalities---and are more complicated than any cultural norm could suggest. Check your interpretation if you are uncertain what is meant.3) Improving Communication⏹Active listening---listen for message content--- listen for feelings--- respond to feelings--- note all cues---paraphrase and restate3) Improving Communication⏹Constructive feedback:--- give feedback directly--- should be specific--- give when person seems willing toaccept it--- give in small dose--- make sure feedback is valid。